Song of the Day: Clem Snide – Me No

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Midday Show host Cheryl Waters, is “Me No” by Clem Snide from the brand new album Hungry Bird on 429 Records.

A wonderfully gifted singer/songwriter, Eef Barzelay has been producing indie alt-country hits under the moniker Clem Snide since at least 1991. Rotating through a host of multi-instrumentalists (mainly Bassist Jason Geller), the band has survived numerous break-ups, re-locations, and line-up changes throughout the years, and just re-formed again this past year; for the 2nd or 3rd time, but who’s counting! They’ve went from Independent label to major label and everything in between. They even had the distinction of having the theme song (“Moment in the Sun”) for a season of the NBC television show Ed. It seems Clem Snide has been through a lot over the years. You have to respect a musician like Barzelay just for his sheer stubbornness; he’s remained passionately committed to putting out quality music, no matter the situation. From their new album and sixth major release, Hungry Bird, the Song of the Day, “Me No,” is an perfect example of their latest work. Listen to this song and think about “alt-country acoustic Radiohead” and that should be pretty close.

You can read more about the band on their wonderful website and listen to additional tracks on MySpace page. The band is currently on tour and are set to play the Tractor Tavern in Seattle on April 11th.

Here’s Eef Barzelay singing “Made For TV Movie” at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City in June of 2003, produced & directed by John Giura for an unreleased live concert DVD: